Posted 2 days ago by Ariella Gibson
3 MIN READ -- Chicago has again been named the top U.S. metro for corporate relocation and site selection by Site Selection Magazine, marking a record 13th consecutive year in the No. 1 position. The annual ranking, based on verified corporate facility projects, is widely regarded as a measure of business expansion and investment activity nationwide and underscores Chicago’s sustained competitiveness in attracting capital and jobs. Illinois ranked No. 2 among states for corporate expansion projects.
“Chicago’s continued leadership in corporate relocation and expansion reflects the strengths our city has built over generations,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “From manufacturing and freight to transportation and global logistics, we have long served as the backbone of American commerce. That industrial depth, combined with modern infrastructure and a skilled workforce, is why companies continue to choose Chicago to grow, invest, and innovate. Recent commitments from Universal Horror Unleashed, Hexaware Technologies, The Hand and The Eye, Freedman Seating Company, Infleqtion, and the collaboration between David Byrne and The Goodman demonstrate that our historic strengths continue to power new industries and new opportunities.”
“Chicago wins because of structural advantages— central geography at the heart of North American trade, the busiest multimodal freight network in the country, unmatched global connectivity through O’Hare, and a 5.5 million–person workforce that spans advanced research to essential operations,” said Phil Clement, President & CEO, World Business Chicago. “Add nearly 150,000 students entering our regional economy each year, competitive utilities, abundant water, scalable industrial space, and a deliberate focus on vibrancy as an economic driver, and you have a region built for sustained growth.”
Clement noted that the organization’s long-term strategy, Chicago 2050 | A Plan for Economic Growth and Jobs, outlines a roadmap to grow the regional economy from approximately $950 billion today to more than $1.4 trillion by 2050. The plan emphasizes that sustained growth will depend not only on established sectors such as manufacturing, TD&L, and finance, but also on the economic power of big ideas like quantum, clean energy, and vibrancy. Download the full Chicago 2050 report here.
In Chicago, vibrancy is not peripheral to economic growth. It contributes directly to it. Cultural and experience-driven investments attract talent, increase visitor spending, activate commercial corridors, and strengthen the city’s global profile. As WBC advances the Chicago 2050 Plan for Economic Growth & Jobs, this convergence of culture, design, and technology reinforces a broader principle: long-term competitiveness depends not only on infrastructure and industry, but also on how it strengthens the vitality that attracts people and investment.
The Site Selection Top U.S. Metro ranking affirms that Chicago’s economic strength extends across a fully connected network of industries, institutions, and counties. From advanced manufacturing and logistics hubs to research universities and innovation centers, the region operates as one coordinated economic system. That alignment converts corporate interest into executed investment and measurable growth.
